Virtual network routing to dynamic end point locations in support of service-based traffic forwarding

• US 10,630,576 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2017
• Issued: 04/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Zhang, Hang
• Primary Examiner(s): Jeong, Moo
• Application Number:
  US15/440,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20180041435A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4645 Details on frame tagging routing of packets H04L45/00; support for virtual LAN H04L49/354
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/122 of virtualised topologies, e.g. software-defined networks [SDN] or network function virtualisation [NFV]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/30 Routing of multiclass traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/302 Route determination based on requested QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/586 of virtual routers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/64 using an overlay routing layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/74 Address processing for routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/745 Address table lookup; Address filtering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/20 based on geographic position or location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 : Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 : Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 : Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 : in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 : Allocation or use of connection identifiers

Abstract

A method and apparatus for routing packets to a destination end point over a virtual network (VN) pre-configured on a network. The routing is performed by a VN virtual router (v-router) associated with a node of the VN. The v-router receives a data packet, obtains an indication of location of the destination end point from a connection management (CM) entity tracking the end point, and selects a logical tunnel or next VN node to forward the data packet to. The CM entity tracks end points upon registration and provides updates upon a request or other trigger.

Claims

1. A method for routing packets to a destination end point over a virtual network (VN) pre-configured on a network, the routing performed by a VN virtual router (v-router) associated with a VN node of the VN, the VN node supported by an associated physical network node of the network and interconnected with other VN nodes of the VN by logical tunnels, the method comprising the v-router:

receiving a data packet associated with the VN and specifying the destination end point;

obtaining an indication of location of the destination end point from a connection management (CM) entity tracking the end point;

selecting one of the logical tunnels to forward the data packet toward the destination end point, the logical tunnel having ingress at the VN node and having an egress at a next VN node on a logical path between the VN node and the destination end point; and

submitting the data packet to the selected logical tunnel for forwarding toward the next VN node;

wherein the obtaining the indication of location comprises the v-router;

transmitting to the CM a location resolution request including a VN identifier corresponding to an identity of the VN, and a name identifier corresponding to the destination end point; and

receiving from the CM a location resolution response including the VN identifier, the name identifier, and a location identifier corresponding to a current location of the destination end point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location identifier identifies at least one of:

a destination physical node tracking the current location of the destination end point;

a destination VN node tracking the current location of the destination end point;

a next VN node on a logical path between the v-router and the destination end point;

a domain identifier of a current domain of the destination end point;

a cluster identifier of a current cluster serving the destination end point; and

an anchor point identifier of a current anchor point serving the destination end point.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the location identifier comprises an address.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating an end point routing table with the indication of location associated with the destination end point.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the indication of location associated with the destination end point is maintained in the end point routing table for a pre-determined period of time.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein a further location resolution request is sent to the CM entity after a pre-determined period of time to refresh the updated end point routing table.

7. A virtual router (v-router) for supporting routing of packets to a destination end point over a virtual network (VN) pre-configured on a network, the v-router associated with a VN node of the VN, the VN node supported by an associated physical network node of the network and interconnected with other VN nodes of the VN by logical tunnels, the v-router configured to:

receive a data packet associated with the VN and specifying the destination end point;

obtain an indication of location of the destination end point from a connection management (CM) entity tracking the end point;

select one of the logical tunnels to forward the data packet toward the destination end point, the logical tunnel having ingress at the VN node and having an egress at a next VN node on a logical path between the VN node and the destination end point; and

submit the data packet to the selected logical tunnel for forwarding toward the next VN node;

wherein the v-router is configured, in support of obtaining the indication of location, to;

transmit, to the CM entity, a location resolution request including a VN identifier corresponding to an identity of the VN, and a name identifier corresponding to the destination end point; and

receive, from the CM entity, a location resolution response including the VN identifier, the name identifier, and a location identifier corresponding to a current location of the destination end point.

8. The v-router of claim 7, wherein the location identifier identifies at least one of:

a destination physical node tracking the current location of the destination end point;

a destination VN node tracking the current location of the destination end point;

a next VN node on a logical path between the v-router and the destination end point;

a domain identifier of a current domain of the destination end point;

a cluster identifier of a current cluster serving the destination end point; and

an anchor point identifier of a current anchor point serving the destination end point.

9. The v-router of claim 7, wherein the location identifier comprises an address.

10. The v-router of claim 7, further configured to:

update an end point routing table with the indication of location associated with the destination end point.

11. The v-router of claim 10, wherein the indication of location associated with the destination end point is maintained in the end point routing table for a pre-determined period of time.

12. The v-router of claim 10, wherein a further location resolution request is sent to the CM entity after a pre-determined period of time to refresh the updated end point routing table.

13. A system comprising a virtual router (v-router) and a connection management (CM) entity, the v-router being for supporting routing of packets to a destination end point over a virtual network (VN) pre-configured on a network, the v-router associated with a VN node of the VN, the VN node supported by an associated physical network node of the network and interconnected with other VN nodes of the VN by logical tunnels, the v-router configured to:

receive a data packet associated with the VN and specifying the destination end point;

obtain an indication of location of the destination end point from the CM entity tracking the end point;

select one of the logical tunnels to forward the data packet toward the destination end point, the logical tunnel having ingress at the VN node and having an egress at a next VN node on a logical path between the VN node and the destination end point; and

submit the data packet to the selected logical tunnel for forwarding toward the next VN node;

wherein

the v-router is further configured to transmit, to the CM entity, a location resolution request including a VN identifier corresponding to an identity of the VN, and a name identifier corresponding to the destination end point; and

the CM entity is configured to transmit, to the v-router, a location resolution response including

the VN identifier, the name identifier, and a location identifier corresponding to a current location of the destination end point.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising the VN node configured to receive the data packet from the v-router.